Family ends link with cycle business

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 8

Family ends link with cycle business

The closing of Bennett Cycles in Merivale next month will bring to an end 60 years of bicycle retailing from the site.

It will also mark the end of three generations of involvement in the trade by the Bennett family. The shop was opened in the 1920 s and was owned and run by Mr George Bennett, father of the present owner, from 1945 to 1952. His father; Charles Bennett, had previously been Involved in cycle wholesaling. The present owner, Mr Paul Bennett, bought the shop back into the family in 1977. He started : his career with Fleet Cycles,

Addington, when he left school in the early 19605. Now aged 41, and national president of the Master Cycle Traders’ Association, Mr Bennett has seen many changes, from the old, mainly black British “sports” bikes to the high-techno-logy pastel-coloured 1 flspeeds of today. “A lot of manufacturers of frames and bikes now look to the clothing industry for up-and-coming colours,” he said. The trade had seen its ups and downs, such as the p, boom in 10-speed saldt;, caused by the oil crisis of the 19705.; The BMX craze brought f

another boom, although it lasted only about months, said Mr Bennett ’■ Now Mr Bennett sees cycle retailing being taken over by the bigger department stores, whose buying power gives them a competitive edge. Closing the business, however, will- not mean that he leaves the premises. He will rent the shop to a real estate firm, which will renovate it as a new branch office — and then give Mr Bennett a new job as a salesman. “I’ve bad enough of bikes at the moment Be, fore ija get any older want ’another challenge/ •he-said. r.‘■ .rr.K